Boxing News 24/7 Alan Dawson – London
In order to ready himself for his fourth professional prizefight, London’s fast-emerging prospect Frank Buglioni sparred with former two-time super middleweight world champion Carl Froch, current European titlist at 168lbs James DeGale and British king George Groves. Buglioni boxes at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London on Saturday, April 28 and is hoping to emulate his pugilistic inspiration; Joe Calzaghe who, like Frank, is a Briton of Italian stock.
Buglioni has thus far shown heavy hands, canvassing durable journeymen like Paul Morby. Credit: Gianluca (Rio) di Caro
“It’s been a great experience to spar with James and George who are both top quality fighters and they each bring different strengths and qualities to the ring,” said Buglioni of DeGale, a combination puncher with a Philly shell guard and Groves, a multi-dimensional fighter who can box or bang.
On Froch, Buglioni (3-0-0, 2ko) was impressed with the Nottingham native’s training ethic: “I [have also] trained with Carl who was great to be around and learn from… especially his attitude towards training which was an eye-opener.”
Currently, 23-year-old Buglioni, who has campaigned at both 175lbs and most recently 168, is without an opponent but is motivated to perform at his highest level due to the history that the arena he will be fighting in contains. A premier concert hall, the Royal Albert Hall hosted amateur boxing last year as UK armed forces were pitted against their American counterparts. This weekend, for the first time in over a decade, professional boxing returns.
“I’ll find out who the opponent in the next day or so and then I can’t wait for Saturday, I’ve got plenty of fans coming down to support me and it’s going to be a great fight night at the Royal Albert Hall. I’m very excited to be boxing on the show where the biggest names in British boxing have all fought,” he added.
“When I was a kid, Joe Calzaghe was a big hero of mine so to fight at the venue where he won the British title is a real honour and it was watching Joe’s amazing fight with Jeff Lacy that made me decide to turn professional,” the TRAD TKO product, trained by Jimmy and Mark Tibbs, recalled. “It’s only my fourth fight on Saturday so I’m a long way off fighting for the British title, but it’s an ambition of mine to win the prestigious belt that the best in Britain have held.”
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